Safety ring for pneumatic tires



A. W. WOODWRD SAFETY RING FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES @eea E4, 93?.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1934 www Patented Dec., 14, 193'? UNITED stares einen garer orties Alva W. Woodward, Kent, Ohio, assigner to Wingfcot Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,289

19 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic tires and, more particularly, to a safety ring for suchA tires to prevent an axle let-down in case of deflation of the tire by puncture or blowout.

` Various constructions for safety rings are known which, however, are not entirely satisfactory. One of the disadvantages was the difculty of placing the safety ring inside the tire casing because of the relatively large outside diameter of the ring. On account of that the safety ring was made up in sections or segments to make assembling of the tire easier. This method is especially necessary when the safety ring is made of a relatively non-flexible material like wood or metal. In segmentary rings, however, it was necessary to fasten the ring sections by bolts or the like to the tire rim to keep them in proper position. To avoid bolting and other complicated structures of 20. known practice the present invention solves the placing of the safety ring sections in the tire by a very eiiicient and simple method which answers all practical purposes.

This invention is applicable to all vehicles v equipped with pneumatic tires and is particularly useful for heavy automobiles, like busses and trucks, and also for rail vehicles. The safety ring, preferably made fromA extruded soft aluminum alloy bars, rests on the tire rim and extends 30: radially outwardly inside the tire so as to prevent the tire from collapsing too much in case of deflation. When riding on the safety ring, the car can be driven for some distance until a convenient place is available for changing tires without danger of damaging the tire.

An object of this invention is to provide-an irnproved. novel safety ring in which the sections areV held in a firm position without fastening them to the tire rim.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety ring which can be readily and positively assembled in any tire and rim byan unskilled workman without special tools.

In order to better understand the nature of this 45 invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a pneumatic tire embracing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a 50 tire illustrating a modification of the invention shown in Fig. l; y Y

Fig; 3 is a side View of a safety ring constructed in accordance with the invention;

Referring to Fig. l, the safety ring shown gen- 55.. erally at IU is of I-shaped cross-section and is Aom provided with circumferential grooves ll and l2. The ring is split into preferably four sections, I3, It, l5 and i6, by two straight radial and by two circular angular cuts as shown in Fig. 3, thereby dividing the inside diameter in four equal spaces. 5 The circular cuts are prescribed about a point lying on the vertical center and on the inside diameter of the safety ring and this radius has been marked with the letter R. A hole 2li is provided in the safety ring along a split of the secl0 i tions to receive an air valve. This construction permits inserting the ring into the reinforced annular rubber ap Il without clearance between the sections after the ring is assembled.

The flap ll is provided onvthe inside of its 15. largest circumference with reinforcedwire beads i8 which are vulcanized to or in the rubber, thereby providing a stretchless, endless retaining member. This reinforced portion of the flap fits into the outer groove ll of the ring l and holds 20 the ring sections in firm position. A split snap ring 2d fits into the inner groove l2 of the safety ring, providing additional holding means for the ring section. The rubber flap ll serves also as a cushion for the air or inner tube 2l by which it is surrounded and which in turn is enclosed by the tire casing 22. The side split ring 23 locks the assembled tire to the rim i3. Of course the safety ring assembly is adapted for any standard type of rim, as will be understood.

The base of the safety ring is approximately as wide as the width between the beads of the tire casing, allowing a small clearance, and the edges of the rubber flap, which may be slightly enlarged, lit closely between the beads. This construction permits the tire casing limited movement to adjust itself to the forces acting thereon and prevents breaking of the casing as against aV fixed grip of the tire beads and ring.

The modification of the safety ring construction seen in Fig. 2 is a simplified arrangement of that shown in Fig. 1. The safety ring 3l! is of the same general construction as that represented in Fig. 1, but omits the grooves ll .and I2 and their associated parts. For securing the ring sections together, the ap 3l surrounding the ring is provided on the inside with circumferential wire bead reinforcements 32 which are vulcanized to or in the flap and are separated by a space 3l suniciently wide to accommodate the air valve of the inner tube. Thus at one point in the flap a valve-receiving hole is pierced completely through the iiap. At the-same time the omission of the reinforcement at the center of the l flap will make the latter more pliable to facilitate spirit of the invention any standard type of rim can be used.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a conHV siderable improvement in the assembling ol the safety ring and in mounting the assembled tire on its rim, which can be of conventional Ytype without requiring any change. i

YAlthough l have illustrated only Ytwo forms which the invention may assume and have described these types in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto but that various modications may be made therein without departing from the or from the scope ci the appended claims.

What I claim is: i

1. In combination with a Vpneumatic tire,:a tire rim mounting the tireQ'a safety ring consisting of a plurality of sections resting on said tire rim, and an annular bead wire reinforcedY rubber flap enclosing and holding the ring sections in rm position around the rim and within the tire, said bead-wire reenforcing being arranged about the periphery of said safe-ty ring to hold said sections against said rim;

2. YIn combination with a pneumatic tire, a

Vtire rim mounting said tire, a safety ring con sisting of a pluralityof .sections resting on said tire rim within theV tire, an annular rubber ilap' enclosing and holding the ring sections in firm position bybead Vwire reinforcements vulcanized to the inside of the outer portion of thegcircumference of the rubber flap which rests against the portion of said ring on which the tire rests when the same Ais deflated and under load. l l 3. InV combination withV a pneumatic tire, a tire rim, a safety ring having I-shaped cross-section and consisting of a plurality of sections restingV on i said tire riman annular rubber flap enclosing and holding the' ring sections in firm position by beadwire reinforcements vulcanized to that por'- tion of the flap against whichithe tire will bear Y noch rubber ap enclosing and holding the ring sections Y in rm position with a portion of the ilap engaging in the outer groove of theY safety ring tting into the inner groove of the safety :1. ng and further locking the ring sections together.'

5.V In combinationwith a pneumatic tire, a tireY rim mounting the tire, a safety ring consisting or a plurality of sections resting on said rim, and an annular rubber flap reinforced on the inside of its outer portion by at least two spaced wire beads vulcanized to the rubber i'iap, the wire beads being in close superimposed relation with the outside'diamet'ei of the safety ring to pre- Y vent the flap from expanding and to holdl the rin placement under centrifugal action'. l

sections in firm position around the rim and v-.fithin the tire. Y

6. A safety ring :for a pneumatic tire of I cross section and-'consisting of a plurality oi segments, a coi ntional tireVv rim supporting the safety ring which extends substantially Vthe width be- 1 tween the tire beads, an annular rubber ap closely surrounding the remaining surface of the safety ring and fitting snugly between the tire beads and the safety ring and wire bead reinforcments vulcanized to the inside of the outer portion of the ilap and holdingrthe safety ring sections in rm position.

7. A safety ring for a pneumatic tire consisting oflfour segments, two of the segment division lines substantially radial and the two other division lines being substantially on a circle, the

center of "which is at the intersection of the inner diameter ci the safetyY ring with the radial division lines. Y

8. A safety ring of -shaped cross section for a pneumatic tireY consisting of foursegmenta a rubber flap enclosing and holding the ring segments in iii-m position by Wire bead reinforcethe ring and embracing the YouterV iiange of the I section, the wire beadsbeing vulcanizedto the rubber flap.

9.1m combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim.

mounting the tire, a'multi-part safety ring within the tire and inounted'on the rim, andannular means *for securing the safety ring in position,V said means comprising ap, reinforced withY substantially inextensible annular elements arranged about the periphery thereof, with the flap covering substantially the Yentire surfaceof Ythe` ring not contacting therriin.

Vitl. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein jfurther, the baseof Vthe safetyring'and the edges of the flap substantially llthe space between the beads of the tire. 1 ll. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim mounting the tire,V a multipart safety ring with` inthe tire and mounted'on the rim,randannular means for securing Vthe safety ring in position, said means comprising a flap reinforced jwith'sub'stantially inextensible elements arranged about theY peripherythereof. Y 12.1nrcombination, a pneumatic tire, a rim mounting the tire, a multi-part safety ring Within the tire and mounted on the rim,'and annular inextensible means arranged perphera'lly of said rincr for securing the safetyrring in position.

13. In combination withV a pneumatic tire YincludingV an'inner tube, a tire rim mountingV the tire, a V.safety ring comprising a plurality of sec'- tionsseated on said tire rim and having a tread portion for supporting the tire rim when Vthe Y, tire isY deated, an annular rubber flap enclosing the ring sections for protecting said inner tube, and an annular metallic non-extensible wire bead incorporated in said nap and surrounding the treadportion of said ring for positively maintaining the sections thereof againstradial dis- 14. Incombination with a pneumatic tire including an'inner tube, aj tire rim mounting Vthe tire, a safetyring comprising a plurality of sections seated on said tire rim and having'Y a tread portion for supporting the tire rim when the tire is deflated, ani annular rubber flap enclosing the ring sections for protecting said inner tube and anfannular metallic'non-extensible wire bead incorporated in said "flap and surrounding the tread portion of said ring for postivelymaintaining the sections thereof against radial, dis'- placement under centrifugal action, said flap having an internal annular rib engageable with a groove in said tread portion to prevent lateral displacement of said flap and sections.

15. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim upon which said tire is mounted, a safety ring embracing said rim and arranged between the lside walls `of said tire, a flap closelyv embracing Asaid ring, interlocking means on said ring and flap for preventing lateral shifting movementrof said iiap relative to said ring. v

16. In combination, a pneumatic tire, a rim upon which said tire is mounted, a safety ring embracing said rim and arranged between the side walls of said tire, and a removable loc-king ring arranged about the periphery of said rim, said safety ring having means arranged on opposite sides of said locatingring for engaging said locating ring to prevent lateral shifting movel ment of said safety ring laterally of said ring.

17. In combination, apneumatic tire, a' rim upon which said tire is mounted. a safety ring v embracing said rim and arranged between the f l side walls of said tire, and a removable locking ringlarranged about the periphery ofV said rim,

said safety ring having means arranged on opposite sides of said locating ring for engaging said locating ring to kprevent lateral shifting movement of said safety ring laterally of said ring, said removable locating ring being a snap ring.

18. In combination with a pneumatic tire. a

' tire rim upon which the tire is mounted, a safety ring inside the tire positioned against the rim and having a circular groove in the side thereof adjacent said rim and being divided linto a plurality of sections, an endless annular reenforced rubber flap enclosing and holding the ring sections against said rim, and a locating ring arranged abo-ut the periphery of `said ring and arf rang-ed within said recess Ato prevent lateral nular member incorporated in said ap and surrounding the tread portion of said ring for positively maintaining the sections thereof against displacement under centrifugal action, and interlocking means between said flap and sections for preventing lateral shifting movement of said flap relative to said sections.

ALvA W. WOODWARD. 

